North America Distribution

Facts About

Cornish heath has its native home in Cornwall, where it is locally abundant but not very common. On our "side of the pond," it has escaped gardens in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. It prefers well-drained, acidic soils. Its small, white flowers are cup-like rather than urn-shaped, unlike the two other Ericas in our region. They yield a dye when in bloom from July to November.

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), meadows and fields

Characteristics

Habitat

terrestrial

New England state

Massachusetts

Growth form

the plant is a shrub (a woody plant with several stems growing from the base)

Leaf type

the leaf blade is simple (lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)

Leaves per node

there are four leaves per node along the stem

Leaf blade edges

the edge of the leaf blade has no teeth or lobes

Leaf duration

the leaves remain green all winter

armature on plant

the plant does not have spines, prickles, or thorns

Leaf blade length

4.5–6 mm

Leaf blade width

1 mm

Leaf stalk

the leaves have leaf stalks

Fruit type (general)

the fruit is dry and splits open when ripe

Bark texture

the bark of an adult plant is thin and smooth

Twig winter color

brown

white

Bud scale number

there are three or more scales on the winter bud, and they overlap like shingles, with one edge covered and the other edge exposed

Native to North America?

Sometimes Confused With

Family

Genus

Need Help?

Information from Dichotomous Key of Flora Novae Angliae

3. Erica vagans
L. E

Cornish heath.
MA. Fields, roadsides. The leaf blades of
Erica vagans are similar to those of
E. cinerea in that the margins are strongly revolute, contiguous, and completely conceal the abaxial surface.